Home improvement, construction issues top list of consumer complaints

Problems with home improvement and construction were among consumers' biggest woes last year.

Author:
Adrian D. Garcia

Published:
5:17 PM EDT July 31, 2019

Updated:
5:17 PM EDT July 31, 2019

Problems with home improvement and new-home construction topped the list of worst complaints received last year, according to a new report from the Consumer Federation of America.

The 2018 Consumer Complaint Survey Report looked at information related to 1.1 million complaints from agencies in 21 states. Home improvement and construction issues generated the second-most complaints in 2018, behind trouble related to vehicles.

The CFA asked the 35 state and local consumer agencies that participated in the report what they considered to be the worst complaints characterized by the volume of complaints, the financial cost to consumers, the impact on vulnerable consumers or the “sheer outrageousness” of the reports. Home improvement and construction issues rose to the top of the list.

Consumers can end up spending tens of thousands of dollars to rectify issues they encounter during a new-home build or remodeling project. And those expenses can lead to big headaches.

“The financial loss that consumers suffer when they pay for work that is shoddy, incomplete or never performed is bad enough, but these problems can also make their homes unlivable and cause emotional distress,” according to the report.

“Home improvement and construction have always been in the top three of our survey,” says Susan Grant, director of consumer protection and privacy at CFA, adding “that is because, along with auto sales, these are very expensive transactions, and if something goes wrong, consumers are more likely to complain than if their toaster breaks down or they have some other minor problem.”

Home remodeling and improvement activity has increased in recent years, creating more potential for consumers to run into problems. Mortgage rates have also fallen in recent months, which means homebuyers and homeowners who want to refinance might save on monthly interest payments.

“It’s hard to say what will affect the rate of home improvement,” Grant says. “Certainly, low-interest rates puts more money in consumers’ pockets to do home improvements as well as programs like PACE (Property Assessed Clean Energy) which provide easily attainable loans for consumers to do certain kinds of energy-efficient home improvements.”

“One of the lessons in the report is if you are taking any kind of home improvement loan that involves a lien on your property, you need to understand what that means and the ramifications of it if you want to sell your home,” Grant says.

The Federal Trade Commission offers advice on how to avoid home improvement scams, including how to find a competent and reliable contractor for your project. Some states, such as Florida and California, require general contractors to be licensed.

“For a big, expensive investment like home improvement or construction, it’s vital to find out what the applicable requirements are before you hire a contractor,” Grant says. “Make sure your contractor has complied with them that way you’ll be better protected if something goes wrong and, hopefully, it will be less likely that something goes wrong.”

In addition to familiarizing yourself with the rules for your home project, CFA recommends you pay a smaller initial deposit when you hire a contractor for home improvement work. Plus, make sure you get a written contract that sets out the scope of work, the project timeline and payment schedule.

“Never pay the full amount for home improvement work until the job is done. You have no leverage if the work is incomplete or unsatisfactory,” the report states. “If the contractor’s work doesn’t look right to you, hold off on making the final payment until you resolve the issue.”

If a contractor fails to finish a job or does shoddy work, CFA suggests keeping notes of your communication and taking photos to document the situation. You can ask your state or local consumer protection agency for advice.

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